Please help - what are my options in this field?

[MissPickles]

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Hi there,
I graduated in 2009 with a major in psychology minor in biology. My GPA was 2.89. During this time I worked in an animal behavior laboratory for one year, and I have six years of experience working at a small animal hospital.

Last year in the fall I started a master's degree in psychology and ended up deciding...while, possibly I knew all along...that my real passion was animal health. Because of my stats, I decided I could never be successful in this field. The only thing I can gather is that if I got a master's degree in a field related to animal health/behavior/reproduction/ect. with good grades and did well on the GRE, I might have a chance. I am not sure if I want to take this long of a route necessarily, so I'd like to find an alternative if there is one! Or if you have ANY advice for me at all.

Thanks so much,
Lindsay

 

[squirrelsrule]

Your grades certainly aren't good, but they aren't the worst in the world either. Did you complete all the prerequisites for vet school? How did you do in those? Most schools calculate your overall and then your last 45 and some do science GPA as well. Are any of those better than the 2.89?

If you haven't completed the prerequisites yet, my suggestion would be to do that and if you do well in those, that will boost your chances quite a bit.

 

[Cypress]

I would contact schools you may be interested in and see if they have any trancript evaluations or consultations to discuss your current stats. I would start with the university that's in your state.

Your stats aren't the worst and can definitely be improved upon - I am also a returning student and have taken the long road to this process - just take a look at all your options, talk to the admission offices, research all the schools and ID the ones you're interested in, make sure you have all the pre reqs needed - they differ from school to school.

I am finishing up a master's in biology - hopefully this will help me gain admission this cycle - the best feedback I was given through this process is to keep taking difficult science courses with a heavy course load to prove I can handle the rigors of the DVM program.

Seek out feedback from admissions - it can really help direct your path so you can evaluate if you are up for the application process - I've been at this for almost for years since deciding to change paths - worth every minute though

 

[deg5030]

Ohio state was one i was interested in, i talked with their admissions people via email about the possibility of them even looking at my application because at the time, it stated do not apply if your gpa is under a 3.0. now it says a 2.8 for out of state. My gpa is lower than yours from my B.S., i explained my story they said if i could make up for it elsewhere they would consider it and review it. So at least it wasn't a flat out no. i did however miss the deadline. But on the bright side i have an interview at sgu (caribbean) just waiting on the when and where if you can consider the out of the country i know a few people at each who love it.

I peak in experience just not in grades or my gre (though calculus was my biggest issue and mainly the cause of my low gpa)
Associates degree 3.4
B.S 2.56
6 years as a certified tech

so it is possible with lower grades, I would just contact the schools and if you really want it and in the US is not an option check out some of the other schools outside the US. I've always wanted it and now that they are accredited with US loans available if its out of the country for me so be it. good luck 🙂

 

[MissPickles]

I did not complete any chemistry or physics requirements. I did take all of the required biology and other coursework. I did well in intro to biology, microbiology, nutrition and of course all the social sciences and such. I tried to take chemistry but I just wasn't serious about it at the time. I did poorly (C+) in genetics and I'd like to retake that, because I know I can do better.

One thing is, I will need to take most of the pre-reqs at community college; I can't afford to go to four year college with no financial aid. I am not sure if this will hurt my chances. Another issue, my grades actually got WORSE in my last 45 hours, and that hurts me a lot I believe...but I am hoping if I can do well in the courses I take as pre-reqs, I can raise that.

I am nervous about this idea; I have been saying for so long that I can't do it that thinking maybe I can is exciting and stomach turning! The difference between me now at 25 and at 23 when I graduated is huge; I am serious, dedicated and willing to work my A** off. I live in Michigan, so I will contact MSU and get as much information as I can.

Thanks so much for all your help so far. 🙂

 

[Cypress]

I was 25 when I decided to do this as well - if you really want it then you can do it! Just keep checking the things off your list and make your application the strongest you can - one step at a time.....Good luck!!

 

[RadRadTerp]

I completed a Statistics prerequisite at community college 4 years after I graduated from my undergrad and my school didn't seem to mind. I don't think there is a stigma regarding community colleges any more as more people realize that education is getting expensive and you can get pretty high-quality teaching from professors who also happen to teach at bigger universities.

 

[FutureDVM2016]

I was 25 when I decided to do this as well - if you really want it then you can do it! Just keep checking the things off your list and make your application the strongest you can - one step at a time.....Good luck!!

I was also 25 when I got serious... I think thats the magical age 😉

 

[squirrelsrule]

I took both semesters of O. Chem, one general bio. prerequisite, statistics, one of the social science prerequisites, and Microbiology all at CC and was invited to the early interview at Ohio State, so I don't think it matters. Of course some that interviewed early have already been accepted and I haven't, so you never know, but I highly doubt that the CC credits are factoring into the decision very much.

I think the biggest struggle as one of the applicants that hasn't known their whole life they wanted to be a vet is to figure out what made you decide now to switch and become a vet and be able to write about it clearly and concisely. I didn't have anywhere near as big of a jump as you, I've always known I wanted to work with animals and through being a wildlife rehabber I decided that being a vet was the best career to choose. It was really hard for me to write about rehabbing in a vet related way at first and concisely write how it lead me to vet med. I had tons of people look over my PS and finally got it just right to show that yes I am ready to be a vet and will be awesome. So, I think starting really early on your PS would be a good idea in addition to taking the prerequisites and doing great in them. Really focus on your classes and do the best you can. A sign of great improvement plus an awesome PS is probably gonna be the key for you to show you are now ready for vet school.

 

[twelvetigers]

There are some schools that require upper division science courses (namely ochem, biochem, and genetics) to be completed at a 4-year institution. Not all schools have this requirement, so please, do your research!

 

[Velaineil]

I took both semesters of O. Chem, one general bio. prerequisite, statistics, one of the social science prerequisites, and Microbiology all at CC and was invited to the early interview at Ohio State, so I don't think it matters. Of course some that interviewed early have already been accepted and I haven't, so you never know, but I highly doubt that the CC credits are factoring into the decision very much.

I had been wondering if you'd heard back from OSU yet... Keep your chin up- I've got faith in you! 🙂
(Faith derived from long-term lurking= totally normal.)